About

CDS provides organizational and developmental guidance to communities seeking to start new co-ops in all sectors of the economy and planning assistance to existing co-ops seeking to expand.

The first cooperative development organization of its kind, CDS delivers business services to cooperatives and producer-owned businesses. We specialize in applying the cooperative business model and are innovative in applying this model to new sectors and emerging business ventures.

CDS serves clients within any co-op sector, though we have particular skill and experience in those sectors related to agriculture, environmental stewardship, and community development.

Our preferred clients are:

Cooperatives

Members of cooperatives or credit unions

Groups that want to form a cooperative

LLCs or group-owned businesses that operate under cooperative principles or that leverage cooperation as a business advantage

Testimonials

"With CDS' help, we were able to channel $1.5M of social investment to young organic farmers in our region. Most importantly, these services were provided to us at a price we could actually afford as a start-up."

- Robert Karp, President, New Spirit Ventures, LLC

CDS is a nonprofit organization created and governed by the cooperative community of the Upper Midwest.